Nepal, ex-rebels agree on monitoring as UN leaves

A minister says Nepal's government and the former communist rebels have reached an agreement on monitoring the thousands of ex-fighters after the United Nations leaves this weekend.

Peace Minister Rakam Chemjong said Saturday an agreement was reached between Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and leader of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

The Maoists agreed to a proposal that a special committee headed by the prime minister would take over the task. The U.N. has been monitoring the peace process and the thousands of former combatants who have been living in camps.